Republicans announce Washington Township mayoral candidate

WASHINGTON TWP. — Even though the township council still hasn’t sworn in an interim mayor, the Republicans are pushing forward with putting up their own candidate for the ballot this fall.

The Republican Executive Committee announced late Monday night that Kevin P. Murphy, the athletic director for Washington Township Public Schools, will run for the mayor’s seat.

“I hate to use this cliche, but he’s a fresh face,” said Committee Chairman Mike Pascetta. “He’s been involved with the community for years, he’s well respected, he has a sense of coach and a sense of leadership.”

Pascetta said the full committee went through the interview process with the candidate, including Murphy.

“This wasn’t a single choice,” he said. “They chose him.”

Murphy, who has been working at Washington Township High School since 2002, will run for the unexpired mayoral seat left vacant by Matt Lyons, a Democrat, who resigned midway through his term in July. Lyons said he stepped down because a Supreme Court panel found that his paid job as the lead county counsel conflicted with his elected role as a strong mayor in a Faulkner Act-governed town.

Since Lyons’ resignation, Business Administrator Mary Breslin has been serving as acting mayor, however she is set to retire at the end of this month. The Republican-led township council voted on the replacement Thursday, but the candidate they selected — Elizabeth Rogale, who was one of three candidates put up by the Democratic Executive Committee — declined to take the job due to the Republicans perceived conflict she might have since she is employed by the municipal utilities authority.

The council is set to meet again on Wednesday to pick a new mayor. Democratic Executive Committee Chairwoman Jill McCrea has said that the three candidates they put up for the interim mayor job, including Bob Smith and her husband Joe, were not interested in running in the special election.

The Democrats have yet to name their ballot choice.

Pascetta said the delays in appointing an interim mayor, and the fact that the Democrats have not picked their candidate, could give the GOP an advantage on the campaign trail.

“We’re in full campaign mode now,” he said.

Calls made to Murphy’s home were not returned by deadline.

According to his biography on the school district’s website, Murphy has more than 16 years of collegiate and interscholastic athletic experiences. He graduated Ursinus College with a B.S. in Psychology, and concentrations in Biology and Athletic Training.

He also has a master’s degree in administration from Rider University and has worked in various school administrative positions such as vice principal. He’s lived in town since 1991 with his wife, Ginny — a member of the school board — and their two sons.

In a prepared statement sent to the Times, Murphy said he moved to town with his wife to “raise our boys in a wonderful, vibrant, family oriented community.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen the worst come out of the political arena over the last decade.

With the doubling of property taxes, reductions in services and a terrible business friendly environment, the township has lost its way and become stagnant.”

“My goal is to bring out the best that Washington Township has to offer and redirect the township onto a course of constituent service instead of self service,” he said.